To celebrate the 25th edition of the Stafford Festival Shakespeare, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre is encouraging locals to share their Shakespeare selfies.

To mark the anniversary, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre will be giving away six pairs of tickets for the best selfie with a Shakespearian vibe. Stafford Festival Shakespeare will run from 25 June to 11 July, 2015. This year's performance, Much Ado About Nothing, will be staged at the historic Stafford Castle.

The Shakespeare selfies can show anything from a quiet night in with your favourite Bard play, to a girly evening of food, wine and hours spent swooning over Leonardo DiCaprio in the film, Romeo and Juliet. Selfies from previous years at the festival are also welcome, however unusual or comical they may be.

Festival goers can share their Shakespeare selfies on the Stafford Gatehouse Theatre’s Twitter page, @Staff_Gatehouse, or its Facebook page using #Shakespeare25. All selfies posted by 19 June stand a chance to win a pair of tickets to one of the UK's leading open air theatrical productions. The winners will be announced on 22 June on the Stafford Gatehouse Theatre Twitter page and blog and will be asked to contact the theatre to claim the prize.

"Almost everyone can relate to Shakespeare's plays in some way, even today, almost four centuries after they’ve been written. This year, we want to bring Shakespeare into the world of social media and digital by encouraging people to share their Shakesperean selfies," explains Emma Hogan, press and marketing officer of Stafford Gatehouse Theatre. "The Bard’s plays are not just meant for in-depth analysis or exams, they can be enjoyed anywhere and by anyone, especially nowadays, when thanks to social media, the whole world truly is a stage.”

The Stafford Festival Shakespeare has proven its popularity over the years with audiences of all ages. Pre-performance dining and picnics can be booked in advance and a selection of real ale, gin, wine and non-alcoholic drinks will be available on the premises."

Tickets for the festival can be purchased from the Stafford Gatehouse Theatre's box office on 01785 619080 or by visiting the theatre's website on www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk.